Pondok Pesantren as An Alternative Education in Indonesia

Indonesia has been one of the developing countries able to provide basic education to the majority of children. One of the major concerns when a country is poor, of course, the education of its children.

Now days, many of children in rural province were drop - out because they have financial to entrance formal school, especially girls, were more likely to be pulled out of school to stay home to help with family chores. Only a small percentage of them worked outside the family home due to lack of pull factors.

Thus, out of school education has long catered for by the community - especially by religious organizations and non - governmental organizations. It is generally realized that the coverage of government program has been very limited. Community organizations and non - governmental organization have been actively involved in the provision of some sort of education to children who, for one reason or another, are unable to enroll in the regular school program.

One of the community organizations is Pondok Pesantren or Islamic Boarding Schools. Pondok Pesantrens were offering children courses on Islam and Holy Al - Qur'an reading, courses were usually delivered in Arabic. Unlike in formal educational institutions, Pondok pesantrens admitted children (then called Santri) who were allowed to live in one compound with their teachers (called Kyai). The relationship between Kyai and their Santri was very close. Emotional bonding and respect were maintained even the Santri had completed their education.

In 1958 / 1959 the newly established government recognized Pondok Pesantrens as one component of its national education. At the same time, Pondok Pesantrens began to offer courses on basic literacy similar to formal schools. To date, there are over 8000 Pesantrens all over the country. Many Pesantrens cater to the needs of the poorest poor.

It is very common that Kyai adopts hundreds of children and subsidizes all of their needs. Children participating in a Pesantren have to combine work, prayer and study. Approximately 60 percent of student-teacher's contact hours are dedicated to religious studies and 40 percent to learning materials similar to those in formal school.

Most Pesantrens also develop their own vocational training, since many of these institutions survive by means of micro to small business. At present some Pesantrens have their own NGOs serving the needs of their community other than in religious studies (such as Fattayat in the Nahdhatul Ulama, which is concerned with health and nutrition).

The development of community - based organizations which may have some linkage with religious organizations, but are more secular. These NGOs fill the gap between the need for education in the society and the ability of the government and the other establishment - tradition or modern- to cater for those needs.

Although the format of NGO - provided education varies according to the mission and vision of the institution, characteristics of target groups, and institutional capacity (professionally and financially) - many similarities may be found between NGOs and government programs.

#This article made for completeness scholarship DREaM UGM 2012

Gedongan, Sleman, Yogyakarta

June 15th, 2012